Bylaws of the Idaho Taxidermists Associaton
Article I – Name
The name of the association shall be Idaho Taxidermists Association, herein referred to as ITA, a non-profit organization.
Article II – Purpose
The purposes of the ITA shall be:
A. To promote high standards in the art and science of taxidermy and encourage members to strive to produce the highest quality product.
B. To aid the taxidermy profession as a whole on the state and federal levels and to develop rapport with those agencies.
C. To encourage the exchange of ideas and methods among members in an attempt to better individuals and the industry as a whole.
D. To foster understanding in the general public about the field of taxidermy.
E. To work for the preservation of the right to hunt, fish and trap
F. To engage in other civic, charitable, and educational activities as deemed appropriate by the ITA.
G. To establish a code of ethics and operate under same.
Article III – Membership and Dues
A. Membership shall be open to all interested parties, including, but not limited to, taxidermists, whether professional or amateur, suppliers, tanners, guides, sportsmen, and conservationists.
B. The Board of Directors shall set the amount of annual dues.
C. All dues are payable in advance and are due as of January 1st of each year.
D. Dues collected shall be used for the benefit of all members.
E. Dues paid after November 1st will be applied to membership for the coming year as well as the remainder of the current year.
F. Membership in the ITA is individual, not transferable or assignable except that any firm or organization desiring a membership shall designate a representative and only that designated representative shall be entitled to vote and run for elective office.
G. Any ITA member in good standing shall be eligible to vote, run for and hold office in the ITA.
H. Any individual member or member firm may be expelled for conduct detrimental to the ITA by affirmative 2/3 (two-thirds) vote of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall take no action to expel a member until said member has been given an opportunity for a hearing before the Board.
I. Any individual member, or member firm expelled by action of the action of the Board of Directors may be prohibited by affirmative 2/3 (two-thirds) vote of the Board of Directors from contracting commercial space to sell or advertise their services or products at any official function of the ITA and may be prohibited by affirmative 2/3 (two-thirds) vote of the Board of Directors from advertising in any official publication of the ITA.
J. Individuals or the designated representative of a member firm shall constitute one membership and be entitled to one vote. Family memberships shall be limited to two (2) voting members.
K. Active members in good standing on the date ballots are distributed shall be entitled to vote upon any matter coming before the general membership.
Article IV – Officers and Board of Directors
A. The ITA Board members shall be elected by the general membership..
1. If there is only one nominee for a board position, he or she may run unopposed.
2. Nominees must be members in good standing for a period of one year before nomination.
3. The board shall consist of 8 board members.
4. The election of the offices of Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer shall be done by the board from within the then elected members of the board. The Board shall nominate and choose the aforesaid officers by secret ballot or show of hands at the first meeting of the Board following the annual election. Officers shall serve a term of one year , but may be re-elected so long as they serve on the Board. Election shall be by the majority vote of the Board.
5. One member of the Board of Directors shall be elected from each region of Idaho. The regions shall be the same as the regions established by Idaho Fish and Game.
B. Term of office will begin immediately following elections and continue for two years.
C. In the event that a Board vacancy should occur the Board shall appoint a candidate to fill the vacancy until the next regularly scheduled election.
D. Duties:
1. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and general meetings of members of the association. The Chairman does not have a vote unless a tie breaker is needed.
2. The Secretary shall be a voting member of the Board and shall attend all meetings of the Board and of the members of the ITA and record their proceedings. The Secretary shall issue notices of meetings and perform such duties as are usually performed by such officers or as may be directed by the Board of Directors
3. The Treasurer shall be a voting member of the Board, and with the assistance of the Secretary, shall receive all monies, pay all bills incurred by the authority of the Board, and preserve records thereof. The Treasurer shall present a statement showing the financial condition of the ITA at each meeting of the Board.
4. The Board of Directors shall be the managing Board of he ITA, control all expenditures and property of the ITA, and act for the interests of the ITA in any way not inconsistent with these bylaws. While ultimate authority rests in the membership, The Board shall define policies and shall have full administrative direction of the ITA. The Board will appoint committee chairpersons and other positions as it deems necessary.
Article V – Elections
A. Elections for the Board shall be held once a year, at the time of the annual convention. Elections for board members shall rotate, with elections for four board members per year,.
B. ITA members in good standing at the time of the elections may vote by mail if they will not be attending the convention. Such ballots must be received by the Secretary of the ITA no later than three weeks following the convention.
C. Nominations for office will be received at the annual membership meeting to the Board and must accept or decline the nomination as they choose.
Article VI – Meetings
A. Board members are expected to attend all official board meetings. Board meetings may be conducted in person, by phone or email. Any officer or board member who misses two consecutive board meetings, without a valid reason acceptable by the Board of Directors, will be asked to voluntarily resign. If such voluntary resignation does not occur, than mandatory, forced resignation may be carried out by the Board.
B. The Board of Directors shall hold quarterly meetings, one of which will be held at the time of the annual convention. Quarterly meetings in which no major purpose needs to be discussed may be postponed or canceled as deemed necessary by the Board of Directors.
C. Special meetings may be called at any time for any purpose by the Chairman or the majority of the Board of Directors. At least two weeks written notice must be given to all members prior to such a special meeting.
D. An annual membership meeting shall be held in conjunction with the Annual Convention .
Article VI – Annual Convention
A. The Annual Convention shall be held at a time and a place selected by the board of directors.
B. The Board of Directors shall , by a simple majority vote, select the sites for all Annual Conventions. Their selection shall be based on binding information provided in response to detailed request for proposal submitted by competing facilities.
Article VIII – Amendments
C. These bylaws may be amended only by an affirmative two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors at a regular or special meeting. The general membership must be notified of any amendments to the bylaws within one month of the date the amendment was approved by the Board.
D. At any time, ten percent of the valid membership may petition the Board to change any action of the Board. Said action will then be placed on a ballot to the membership and by two-thirds (203) majority of those voting, said action of the Board may be overturned.
E. If a Court of competent jurisdiction shall hold a portion of these bylaws to be invalid, the remainder of the bylaws not so held to be invalid shall be considered in full force and effect.
Article VIV -- Rules of Order
“Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised” shall govern at all meetings and in cases not provided for in these by-laws. However , in the regular order of business it may be waived by the chairman as needed.
Article I – Name
The name of the association shall be Idaho Taxidermists Association, herein referred to as ITA, a non-profit organization.
Article II – Purpose
The purposes of the ITA shall be:
A. To promote high standards in the art and science of taxidermy and encourage members to strive to produce the highest quality product.
B. To aid the taxidermy profession as a whole on the state and federal levels and to develop rapport with those agencies.
C. To encourage the exchange of ideas and methods among members in an attempt to better individuals and the industry as a whole.
D. To foster understanding in the general public about the field of taxidermy.
E. To work for the preservation of the right to hunt, fish and trap
F. To engage in other civic, charitable, and educational activities as deemed appropriate by the ITA.
G. To establish a code of ethics and operate under same.
Article III – Membership and Dues
A. Membership shall be open to all interested parties, including, but not limited to, taxidermists, whether professional or amateur, suppliers, tanners, guides, sportsmen, and conservationists.
B. The Board of Directors shall set the amount of annual dues.
C. All dues are payable in advance and are due as of January 1st of each year.
D. Dues collected shall be used for the benefit of all members.
E. Dues paid after November 1st will be applied to membership for the coming year as well as the remainder of the current year.
F. Membership in the ITA is individual, not transferable or assignable except that any firm or organization desiring a membership shall designate a representative and only that designated representative shall be entitled to vote and run for elective office.
G. Any ITA member in good standing shall be eligible to vote, run for and hold office in the ITA.
H. Any individual member or member firm may be expelled for conduct detrimental to the ITA by affirmative 2/3 (two-thirds) vote of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall take no action to expel a member until said member has been given an opportunity for a hearing before the Board.
I. Any individual member, or member firm expelled by action of the action of the Board of Directors may be prohibited by affirmative 2/3 (two-thirds) vote of the Board of Directors from contracting commercial space to sell or advertise their services or products at any official function of the ITA and may be prohibited by affirmative 2/3 (two-thirds) vote of the Board of Directors from advertising in any official publication of the ITA.
J. Individuals or the designated representative of a member firm shall constitute one membership and be entitled to one vote. Family memberships shall be limited to two (2) voting members.
K. Active members in good standing on the date ballots are distributed shall be entitled to vote upon any matter coming before the general membership.
Article IV – Officers and Board of Directors
A. The ITA Board members shall be elected by the general membership..
1. If there is only one nominee for a board position, he or she may run unopposed.
2. Nominees must be members in good standing for a period of one year before nomination.
3. The board shall consist of 8 board members.
4. The election of the offices of Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer shall be done by the board from within the then elected members of the board. The Board shall nominate and choose the aforesaid officers by secret ballot or show of hands at the first meeting of the Board following the annual election. Officers shall serve a term of one year , but may be re-elected so long as they serve on the Board. Election shall be by the majority vote of the Board.
5. One member of the Board of Directors shall be elected from each region of Idaho. The regions shall be the same as the regions established by Idaho Fish and Game.
B. Term of office will begin immediately following elections and continue for two years.
C. In the event that a Board vacancy should occur the Board shall appoint a candidate to fill the vacancy until the next regularly scheduled election.
D. Duties:
1. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and general meetings of members of the association. The Chairman does not have a vote unless a tie breaker is needed.
2. The Secretary shall be a voting member of the Board and shall attend all meetings of the Board and of the members of the ITA and record their proceedings. The Secretary shall issue notices of meetings and perform such duties as are usually performed by such officers or as may be directed by the Board of Directors
3. The Treasurer shall be a voting member of the Board, and with the assistance of the Secretary, shall receive all monies, pay all bills incurred by the authority of the Board, and preserve records thereof. The Treasurer shall present a statement showing the financial condition of the ITA at each meeting of the Board.
4. The Board of Directors shall be the managing Board of he ITA, control all expenditures and property of the ITA, and act for the interests of the ITA in any way not inconsistent with these bylaws. While ultimate authority rests in the membership, The Board shall define policies and shall have full administrative direction of the ITA. The Board will appoint committee chairpersons and other positions as it deems necessary.
Article V – Elections
A. Elections for the Board shall be held once a year, at the time of the annual convention. Elections for board members shall rotate, with elections for four board members per year,.
B. ITA members in good standing at the time of the elections may vote by mail if they will not be attending the convention. Such ballots must be received by the Secretary of the ITA no later than three weeks following the convention.
C. Nominations for office will be received at the annual membership meeting to the Board and must accept or decline the nomination as they choose.
Article VI – Meetings
A. Board members are expected to attend all official board meetings. Board meetings may be conducted in person, by phone or email. Any officer or board member who misses two consecutive board meetings, without a valid reason acceptable by the Board of Directors, will be asked to voluntarily resign. If such voluntary resignation does not occur, than mandatory, forced resignation may be carried out by the Board.
B. The Board of Directors shall hold quarterly meetings, one of which will be held at the time of the annual convention. Quarterly meetings in which no major purpose needs to be discussed may be postponed or canceled as deemed necessary by the Board of Directors.
C. Special meetings may be called at any time for any purpose by the Chairman or the majority of the Board of Directors. At least two weeks written notice must be given to all members prior to such a special meeting.
D. An annual membership meeting shall be held in conjunction with the Annual Convention .
Article VI – Annual Convention
A. The Annual Convention shall be held at a time and a place selected by the board of directors.
B. The Board of Directors shall , by a simple majority vote, select the sites for all Annual Conventions. Their selection shall be based on binding information provided in response to detailed request for proposal submitted by competing facilities.
Article VIII – Amendments
C. These bylaws may be amended only by an affirmative two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors at a regular or special meeting. The general membership must be notified of any amendments to the bylaws within one month of the date the amendment was approved by the Board.
D. At any time, ten percent of the valid membership may petition the Board to change any action of the Board. Said action will then be placed on a ballot to the membership and by two-thirds (203) majority of those voting, said action of the Board may be overturned.
E. If a Court of competent jurisdiction shall hold a portion of these bylaws to be invalid, the remainder of the bylaws not so held to be invalid shall be considered in full force and effect.
Article VIV -- Rules of Order
“Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised” shall govern at all meetings and in cases not provided for in these by-laws. However , in the regular order of business it may be waived by the chairman as needed.
